Forest fire near Doig River First Nation is now listed as ‘off’, according to the BC Wildfire Service

FORT ST. JOHN, BC — A wildfire reported by the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) near Doig River First Nation (DRFN) in May is now listed as out.

When the flames were first discovered on May 12, they spread rapidly, reaching 650 hectares in size. The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) and DRFN council issued evacuation orders.

According to the BCWS, the fire was probably caused by human activity.

Evacuees went to Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and other communities. On May 20, the orders were lifted.

Upon an appearance on This week in Peace On May 24, DRFN leader Trevor Makadahay told Tre Lopushinsky that DRFN was able to get residents out of the community thanks to preparations.

Makadahay added in the interview that DRFN has spent $750,000 on SmartFire planning for about 60 acres, meaning the total price for the measures could be $1 million.

Methods included applying mulch to create space between trees, and mixing the mulch with soil to prevent the fire from spreading.

“The river was on the backside of one of our fire-affected sections, in the area behind Jack Pine, there’s a real steep drop,” Makadahay said. “It would burn, but it would burn slowly.”

According to the Prince George Fire Department, about a dozen wildfires are still burning in the region, most of which are remnants from 2023.

Ed Hitchins, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Energeticcity.ca